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. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS EWING, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO 0. FRED- ERICK CLARKE AND GUSTAVUS M. SPENCER, BOTH OF SAME PLACE.

COMPOSITION FOR CLEANING AND RENOVATING FABRICS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No, 294 727,. dated March 4, 1884.

' Application filed December 10, 1883. (No specimens.)

To aZZ whom it may concern: Y

Be it known that I, THOMAS EWING, a citi zen of the United States, and a resident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented a 5 Process of and Composition for Cleaning and Renovating Fabrics, of which the followingis v a specification.

The main object of my invention is to cleanse, renovate, and restore the colors of the upholstered portions of furniture without removing the fabrics; and this object I attain in the manner and by the composition which I will proceed to describe.

In carrying out my invention I, in the first r 5 instance, prepare either of the following aniline solutions: No. 1. One ounce, or thereabout, of eosine J, gradually stirred into six (6) fluid ounces of alcohol, (95,) the alcohol being 2o maintained at a temperature of 17 6 Fahrenheit until the admixture is complete.

No. 2.v Three-quarters (i) of an ounce of fuchsine crimson B, gradually stirred into five (5) fluid ounces of alcohol (95) at a temperature of 176 Fahrenheit.

Either of these aniline solutions, which should be prepared in porcelain 0r porcelainlined vessels, may be used as ingredients in compounding the cleansing and renovating liq- 3O uid when it has to be applied to such fabrics as are of a scarlet, maroon, or appropriate shade. v

To complete the composition, I pour into six (6) gallons, or thereabout, of water, (dis 3 5 tilled or rain-water being preferred,) while it is at the boilingpoint, about two (2) ounces of of either of the above aniline solutions, and

when the latter has been thoroughly disseminated I add two (2) ounces, or thereabout,

40 of sal-soda, or equivalent alkali, and about two (2) ounces of aqua-ammonia, preferably of a strength of 3 Fahrenheit, the whole be ing maintained at a boiling-point.

. pound will now be a nearly colorless liquid,

4 5 ready for application to upholstery without removing or otherwise disturbing the fabrics.

If the compound has to be applied to the plush seats of railroad-cars, for instance, it is'spread, while hot, over the same by abrush or other suitable instrument, and then carefully sponged off.

The com- The effect of the alkali and ammonia will be to'thoroughly cleanse the fabric to which the original brilliancy of color will be restored by the aniline solution which forms part of the compound, the renovating effect of this solution being enhanced by the presence ofthe alkali and ammonia. \Vhen the fabric is dry,

I brush it thoroughly with a stiff brush.

The aniline solutions should be varied in ac- 6O cordance with the color of the fabric to be operated on. Thus, in compounding the preliminary ingredient, I may use Victoria green, Hoffmans violet, picric acid, or Bismarck brown, as the color of the upholstery to be treated maysuggest, these colors being prepared with alcohol in the man; ner described above.

In sponging the fabric after the application of the alkaline solution, I use hot water, in which chloride of sodium has been dissolved,

in about the proportion of two ounces of the latter to a gallonof water, this wash being preferred for fabrics of a crimson, scarlet, maroon, or kindred tint.

For fabrics of a green or like tint, I prefer to use a wash composed of water and acetic acid in the proportion of a fiuid ounce of the acid to a gallon of water. I have added a small quantity of glycerine to the composition with good results.

I claim as my inventionv 1. The within described compound for cleansing and renovating the colors of fabrics, the same consisting of aniline solution, alkali, and ammonia, compounded substantially in the manner and proportions herein set forth.

2. The mode herein described of cleansing and restoring the colors of fabrics, said mode consisting in applying to the fabric a composition of aniline solution, alkali, and ammo nia, and then sponging the fabric, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I-have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two sub 5 scribing witnesses.

THOMAS EWING.

Vitnesses:

JOHN E. PARKER, HARRY SMITH. 

